Strategy, Culture, Remarkable Schools

Why can’t even the most innovative schools survive the culture failure?

Successful schools are remarkable. But not all innovative schools are successful.

As a matter of fact, many innovative schools only have working pedagogy but lack a clear path of change, let alone understanding how culture (often undefined) either supports or sabotages the change they set out to make.

Before we dive into what makes schools remarkable, it helps to view pedagogy through a cultural lens.

The heart of studying is scarcity.

There is only one way to climb Mt. Everest. Because of that, grading and tests are the measurements to identify who is at the top, who’s at the bottom, and who fits in the middle.

Studying isn’t the only organized activity that runs like this.

Competition, such as sports, and the winning tradition, run the same way.

So are the popularity contests in high schools, on social media, or in places where the status game dominates.

These are examples of how culture matches activities.

The heart of learning is abundance.

Studying isn’t the only identity students have in schools. Learning says this: everyone has unique intelligence, and discovering what you are about is significant in your school experience.

With learning, students are equal participants and find joy that only they understand and connect to. As a result, contributing to other students’ learning journeys benefits everyone.

You may have guessed already that learning isn’t the only organized activity that runs this way.

So is the creative process and problem-solving, such as writing, making art, engineering, etc, all the work that requires empathy and connecting dots.

If pedagogy is the strategy on the school’s map to success, culture defines how people show up and work with each other on this journey.

In "The Wizard of Oz," Dorothy understands that she must travel to the Emerald City to speak with the Wizard to find her way home (the strategy/the path of change). But it is ultimately her decision to seek out the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion. It's not just about her journey, but it's about how she helps others fulfill their own paths. In the end, by helping others (the culture), she eventually finds her way home, too.

When strategy, the path of change, and culture work together (almost always shows up in successful schools), parents will see remarkable outcomes.

Photo Credit: boliviainteligente